UMVA has learned that a New York judge declared crucial evidence seized from Luigi Mangione’s backpack inadmissible, while allowing other items, including the alleged murder weapon, to be shown to jurors.
The ruling, written by Judge Gregory Carro, found the initial search of Mangione’s bag at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s unconstitutional because the backpack had been removed from his arm’s reach. However, a later search conducted at the police station was deemed lawful, preserving the handgun linked to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Most of Mangione’s statements to Pennsylvania police will be admissible, except those concerning his alleged fake ID made after he received his Miranda warning. The defense had argued those remarks violated his rights.
In a separate federal proceeding, another judge has already ruled that the same backpack evidence, including the gun, a 3D‑printed silencer, a counterfeit ID used to check into a Manhattan hostel, and journals critical of the health‑insurance industry, will be admitted at trial.
Mangione, 28, is accused of firing the fatal shot from behind as Thompson walked to a business conference outside a Manhattan Hilton hotel on December 4, 2024. After the shooting, he allegedly fled on a bicycle, later being recognized in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where a 911 call led to his arrest.
Authorities reportedly searched the bag multiple times in the eight hours before obtaining a warrant, prompting the defense to claim the searches violated Mangione’s constitutional protections. They also sought to suppress statements made between his arrest and extradition to New York.
Prosecutors countered that the Altoona police acted reasonably in searching the bag after the arrest, and the judge’s decision reflects that view for the state case.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all state and federal charges. In New York, he faces a second‑degree murder count that carries a potential life sentence, alongside six weapons‑related offenses and a charge for possessing a fake ID.
The state trial is set to begin on September 8, while the federal case will proceed separately, with the backpack evidence cleared for use following a January 30 order.
